The sugar substitute is called oligofructose, or OFS. It's used to replace fat or sugar and reduce the calories of foods like ice cream, dairy products, and baked goods. OFS has about 30% to 50% of the sweetness of table sugar, according to the FDA.

Asked to comment on the findings, AHA spokeswoman Alice Lichtenstein, DSc, a nutritionist at Tufts University, tells WebMD that "the study is very interesting. But we need further study before we can make recommendations about whether people should take OFS supplements."